No one is in awe of the Buckeyes in South Florida. Clemson seems to be more in awe of itself as the Tigers and Buckeyes get ready for Friday night's Orange Bowl at Sun Life Stadium in Miami.

Ohio State has won 24 of 25 games under Urban Meyer, but doubt has crept in after the last two games. The Buckeyes were stymied in the conference championship game against a Michigan State offense that isn't close to the same level as Clemson's high-octane passing attack. That's after they needed a two-point conversion interception to save a win at Michigan, a team that wasn't competitive in a pre-New Year's bowl loss to Kansas State.

A Clemson win over the Buckeyes gives its program some legitimacy, a notch on Dabo Swinney's belt so to speak. An Ohio State win mixes credibility into the Buckeyes' season.

"That's what I was looking for," Clemson receiver Sammy Watkins said. "I didn't want to be playing — not to a say a sorry team — but a team that everyone thought is better than us, where we can prove ourselves once again. We came down here two years ago and laid an egg. We have an opportunity to come down here and put this program on the right page. ... This game gives us a step forward and something to look forward to next year."

The last time Clemson played in the Orange Bowl was two years ago when the Tigers were handled 70-33 by West Virginia.

Watkins is a big reason the Tigers are confident that won't happen again.

He has 85 receptions for 1,237 yards and 10 touchdowns. He is fourth in ACC history in career catches and fifth in receiving yards.

He is easily the most decorated receiver the Buckeyes' struggling pass defense will have faced this season.

"Overall, I think I can't be guarded," Watkins said. "That's just my mindset. It's definitely fun going against great cornerbacks."

The news gets worse for Ohio State. Cornerback Bradley Roby is nursing a sore knee and was spotted wearing a sleeve at practice Sunday. Defensive coordinator Luke Fickell said Roby was day-to-day.

He would match up against Watkins in a game that could be a difference maker for Roby. He already has said he plans to leave early for the NFL Draft.

There is a lot on the line Friday night. No one will leave Miami with the crystal football national championship trophy. Someone will leave with

credibility.

"For me, it's about playing the best game I've played so far," Clemson quarterback Tajh Boyd said. "Not just for me, but for this program and this university."

There's another interesting connection between the two programs.

Clemson offensive coordinator Chad Morris was believed to be the coordinator Meyer wanted to join him in Columbus.

Page 2 of 2 - Shortly after Meyer was hired by Ohio State, Morris became the highest paid assistant coach in the country. That's because Meyer was trying to get him in Columbus. But the Tigers signed him to a six-year extension that's worth $1.3 million a year. Morris signed the deal when he was two years removed from being a high school coach.

Meyer has praised Clemson's offense in the weeks leading up to the game, and Morris' creativity.

Ohio State isn't used to losing the last two seasons. Meyer seemed to put, if not all of his chips, most of them on playing for all the marbles. Now, the Buckeyes have to dust themselves off and try to earn some respect.

"Sometimes we get spoiled," Fickell said. "Kids, all of us, we get spoiled. That's why you play the game of football. It teaches you life. You get knocked down, you get back up. It's not cliché. It's the reality."